TWO PEOPLE INDICTED AND ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL VOTING AND TAMPERING WITH A GOVERNMENT RECORD IN EDWARDS COUNTY, TX

Date Posted: 04/13/2015

TWO PEOPLE INDICTED AND ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL VOTING AND TAMPERING WITH A GOVERNMENT RECORD IN EDWARDS COUNTY, TX.

On April 16, 2015 the Texas Attorney General's Office presented a case to the Edwards County Grand Jury of the 452nd Judicial District. The case presented was Illegal Voting - A 2ND Degree Felony and Tampering with a Government Document - A State Jail Felony. Michael and Tamara Scotch were both served with indictments and were arrested in Edwards County, State of Texas on April 13, 2015 by Sheriff Pamela Elliott and Deputy CPT Darrell Volkmann on four counts each

Count 1 &4 - Michael Scotch, to wit: Defendant voted in the May 11, 2013 municipal election of Rocksprings, when he knew he did not reside in the city or territory covered by the election in which he voted for Illegal Voting and Tampering with Government Records.

Count 2 & 3 - Michael Scotch, to wit: Defendant with the intent to defraud or harm another, did knowingly make a false entry in a governmental record, to wit: A Statement of Residence, said false entry that Michael Scotch's residence address was at 608 W. Old Del Rio, Rocksprings, TX 78880, which is not his residence.

Count 1 &4 - Tamara Scotch, to wit: Defendant voted in the May 11, 2013 municipal election of Rocksprings, when she knew she did not reside in the city or territory covered by the election in which she voted for Illegal Voting and Tampering with Government Records.

Count 2 & 3 - Tamara Scotch, to wit: Defendant with the intent to defraud or harm another, did knowingly make a false entry in a governmental record, to wit: A Statement of Residence, said false entry that Tamara Scotch's residence address was at 608 W. Old Del Rio, Rocksprings, TX 78880, which is not his residence.

Michael and Tamara Scotch each posted a $7000.00 bond and were released from the Edwards County Jail pending trial in this matter.

Sheriff Pamela Elliott stated, "It is matters such as this, which ensures that the integrity of the election is kept to a fair and impartial process because each and every vote counts". The Sheriff stated, she had received another complaint from the Attorney General Office in regards to other people who do not live in Edwards County but have failed to change their registry; Edwards County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating this matter. Please ensure to update your current address with the Edwards County Voter Registar or with the County Registar where you currently reside:

Voter Registration

VOTER Eligibility, which means You are eligible to register to vote if:
You are a United States citizen;
You are a resident of the county where you submit the application;

-Are at least 17 years and 10 months old at time of registration (but to vote, they must be 18 years of age by Election Day);

-Have not been finally convicted of a felony, or if they have been convicted, have completed all of their punishment, including any term of incarceration, parole, supervision, probation, or have received a pardon; -Note: Deferred adjudication is not a final felony conviction.

-Have not been determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.

Individuals who have legal guardians may be eligible to register, depending on whether the court took away their right to vote. All guardianship orders issued after September 1, 2007 must state whether the individual can vote.
People with disabilities can receive assistance registering to vote from any state agency that provides services to persons with disabilities or from any person they choose.

A voter will be required to show one of the following forms of photo identification at the polling location before the voter will be permitted to cast a vote:

Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS
United States military identification card containing the person's photograph
United States citizenship certificate containing the person's photograph
United States passport

After you apply, a voter registration certificate (your proof of registration) will be mailed to you within 30 days.

Check your certificate to be sure all information is correct. If there is a mistake, make corrections and return it to the Voter Registrar immediately.

On your registration certificate, you will see a precinct number. Your residence is located in a specific "precinct," or area within the county where you will vote on Election Day. In some cases, precincts may be combined to accommodate joint local elections, so always consult your County Clerk or Elections Administrator in the days before an election for the address of the polling place where you're to vote. If your county has supplied us with polling place information, you can find that information here: County Precincts and Polling Place Addresses

When you go to the polls to vote, present one of the seven (7) approved forms of photo ID and election officials will match your name to the official list of registered voters.

For voters that applied for and received the permanent exemption from showing a photo ID based in their disability status, this status will be notated on their voter registration certificate. These voters are required to present their voter registration certificate when they go to the polls to vote.

If you lose your certificate, notify your county Voter Registrar in writing to receive a new one.

You will automatically receive a new certificate every two years if you haven't moved from the address at which you are registered.

Are you already registered?

To confirm your voter registration status, you may select one of three methods to perform a search:

Your Texas driver's license number, if you provided it when you applied for voter registration;
Your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID), which appears on your voter registration certificate;
Your first and last name.

Did you move within your county?

If you moved from one place to another in the same county, you'll need to notify the Voter Registrar in your county in writing of your new address. (In most Texas counties, the Tax Assessor-Collector is also the Voter Registrar. In some counties, the County Clerk or Elections Administrator registers voters.) There are several ways to do this:

Correct your current voter registration certificate on the back and return it to the Voter Registrar.
Fill out a new voter registration application form and check the "change" box.
When you apply for or change your Texas driver's license, change your voter information at the same time.
As long as you reside in the same county, you can change your information online at the Secretary of State's Voter Registration Name/Address Change website. The screen will prompt you through the process and the changes that you make will be forwarded to your county Voter Registrar for processing. You will be mailed a new certificate with your new address and be able to vote in your new precinct 30 days after you submitted your change. If you miss the 30-day deadline to change information on your voter registration certificate, you may vote in your former precinct as long as you still reside in the political subdivision conducting the election.

Did you move to another county?

If you moved to another county, YOU MUST RE-REGISTER! Fill out and mail a new application, or take it in person, to the Voter Registrar of your new county. (In most Texas counties, the Tax Assessor-Collector is also the Voter Registrar. In some counties, the County Clerk or Elections Administrator registers voters.) You will receive a new voter registration certificate 30 days after your application is submitted and accepted.

If you are late to register in your new county, you may be able to vote a "limited" ballot on candidates or issues common between your old and new counties. You may only vote this "limited" ballot after you have moved to your new residence, during the early voting period by mail or personal appearance (not on Election Day) and if:

You are a current registered voter in your former county;
You would be eligible to vote in your former county on Election Day, if you were still living in that county;
You have not re-registered in the new county, or, if you have re-registered, the effective date of the new registration will not be effective on or before Election day